- The
Tithe Applotment 1826, Kilskerry, Tyrone.(Surnames by Townland are given under this WEB link.) Compiled between 1823
and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural
holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland (the main
Protestant church and the church established by the State until its
dis-establishment in 1871). The number of Holdings/Surnames is given.

- Hearth
Money Rolls of 1666 - was levied half yearly by the Sheriff of
each county on the basis of lists of the names of householders compiled by local
Justices of the Peace. The list of the households required to pay the Hearth Tax
became known as the Hearth Money Rolls, which were arranged by county, barony,
parish, and townland. The tax was sometimes collected over an area known as a 'walk', which was based on
both the town and a large rural area outside the town. This is why you may see
multiple townlands, for one entry. The surname could have been in either
townland. The Hearth Money Rolls used here were from;
Hearth Money and Subsidy Rolls: Co Tyrone (Clogher Diocese), by P.O.
Gallachair, Clogher Record, Vol 5, No 3 (1965), pp. 379-387, note that
at the time the location on the record was Tyrone Co., Omagh Barony,
Maghericross Parish, NOT Kilskerry Parish. The Rolls can be found at The Public
Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), T 307, pp. 249-257.

Note 1: On the Ordnance Survey Maps and Memoirs and the Tithe Applotment,
acres were “Irish or
Plantation acres”, not English statute acres. The
English statute acre is used on the 1841, and latter, census and the
Griffith’s Valuation of 1864. The Irish acre is 1.62 times larger than the
English statute acre. The difference between the Irish acre and
the statute acre arises from the fact that the Irish mile is
14⁄11miles (1.273 miles (2.049 km)).
Irish Acres X 1.62 = English Standard Acres

“Those who know the value of these ancient names as badges of personal
identification will continue to use them, because they have served our people so
well for so long, ….. not to mention those who have inherited our rich heritage
of familiar placenames.”

Back Ground
One cannot attempt a study of Townland and placenames with out first
exploring the term Townland, itself.

A townland or bally (Irish: baile fearainn) is a small
geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic
origin, pre-dating the Norman invasion, and most have names of Irish Gaelic
origin. However, some townland names and boundaries come from Norman
manors, plantation divisions, or later creations of the Ordnance
Survey.
In Ireland, a townland is the smallest administrative division of land.Whilst the concept of townlands is based on the Gaelic system of land
division, it was in the 1600s that they became mapped and defined by the English
administration for the purpose of portioning the land for investors or
grants.The first official evidence of the existence of this Gaelic
land division system can be found in church records from before the 12th
century.

The term baile, anglicised as "bally", is the most dominant element
used in Irish townland names.Whilst today the term "bally" denotes a
town or urban settlement, its precise meaning in ancient Ireland is unclear, as
towns had no place in Gaelic social organization.The modern Irish
term for a townland is baile fearainn (plural: bailte fearainn).
The term fearainn means "land, territory, quarter".

The Normans, despite not having a serious influence on townland names,
adapted some of them for their own use, possibly seeing a similarity between the
Gaelic baile and the Norman bailey, both of which meant a
settlement.

Throughout most of Ulster, townlands were known as "ballyboes" (Irish:
baile bó, meaning "cow land"and represented an area of
pastoral economic value.

In County Cavan, similar units were called "polls", and in counties Fermangh
and Monaghan they were known as "tates" or "taths". In regard to tates, modern
townlands with the prefix tat- are confined almost exclusively to the
diocese of Clogher (which covers counties Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Clogher
barony in County Tyrone),and it cannot be confused with any other
Irish word.

In County Tyrone the following hierarchy of land division was used:
"ballybetagh" (Irish: baile biataigh, meaning "victualler's place"),
"ballyboe", "sessiagh" (Irish: séú cuid, meaning sixth part of a
quarter), "gort" and "quarter" (Irish:ceathrú). In County
Fermanagh it was: "ballybetagh", "quarter" and "tate".Further
sub-divisions in Fermanagh appear to be related to liquid or grain measures such
as "gallons", "pottles", and "pints".

In Ulster the ballybetagh was the territorial unit controlled by an Irish
sept, typically containing around 16 townlands. Fragmentation of ballybetaghs
resulted in units consisting of four, eight, and twelve townlands. One of these
fragmented units, the "quarter" (representing a quarter of a ballybetagh), was
the universal land denomination recorded in the 1608 survey for County
Donegal.In the early 17th century, 20% of the total area of western
Ulster was under the control of the church. These "termon" lands consisted
likewise of ballybetaghs and ballyboes, but were held by erenaghs instead of sept
leaders.

Townlands vary in size from the smallest, of less than an acre (Old Church
Yard, Carrickmore, parish of Termonmagurk, County Tyrone).

The ballyboe (a townland unit used in Ulster) was described in 1608 as
containing sixty acres of arable land, meadow, and pasture, however this was
misleading as the size of townlands under the Gaelic system varied depending
upon their quality, situation, and economic potential.This economic
potential ranged from the extent of land required to graze cattle to the land
required to support several families.The highest density of townland
units recorded in Ulster in 1609 corresponds to the areas with the highest land
valuations in the 1860s.

It seems that many moorland areas were not divided into townlands until
fairly recently. These areas were "formerly shared as a common summer pasturage
by the people of a whole parish or barony". The Ordnance Survey for taxation
purposes, documented and standardized the boundaries of the more than 60,000
townlands in Ireland. This process often involved dividing or amalgamation of
existing townlands, and defining townland boundaries in areas such as mountain
or bog land that had previously been outside the townland system.

NA TRI LIAG – Site of the original settlement of Trillick Mor, from
which the name of Trillick has survived for 4000 years.Method
“Many of the old Irish names have been corrupted with the English Conquest
and later with the change here to English speech. Many others have been lost
altogether. As a result, it is difficult today to discern the correct meanings
of the old Irish placenames. But most of them can be explained by comparing the
different spellings of them over the past few centuries. Below an effort is made
to do this. First listed are the townland names alphabetically, followed by a
rendering of the original Irish forms with the meanings in English. Next, other
variant forms, found in the past, are given, including the only other sources to
suggest meanings for the placenames. These were the Ordnance Survey Field
Namebooks of the 1830’s, the little book by the Tyrone author,
P. McAleer, Townland Names of County Tyrone, now out of print, updated, but
written in the first decade of the 20th century and Parish of
Kilskeery: The
Place-Names Explained, by B. O'Daly; Clogher Record, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1957),
pp. 71-96, Clogher Historical Society. Other placenames, in the townland,
follow, with the Irish form and the meaning in English.”

The first list of Kilskerry Parishioners available is of those who paid the
hearth tax in 1666. There were 67 hearths, when the parish
population was only a few hundred at the most. It was a tax of 2
shillings on every hearth and fire-place.

Cill Scire: 'Church of
(St.) Scire.'; The old ecclesiastical center, Kilskeery, which gives name to the
Parish, is of great antiquity. It was the site of Kilskeery Monastery, founded
in 749 A.D. (M.H.), and had a Bishop of its own, Cineadh, son of Ceallach, who
died in 809 A.D. (A.U.). The Martyrologies of Tallaght and Donegal, preserve the
form Cill-Scire; while the Annals of Ulster, completed and edited by Archdeacon
O'Cassidy, a vicar of the Parish (died 1541), speak of "The parson of Cell Sgire
Head of tribe or of hospitality."

(The) BRADE – The Barony Name
(Obsolete)
Braghaid: 'Gorge' or 'Neck’, This name is anglicized Brad, Braid, Brade and
Bractde. Literally meaning the gullet or windpipe, it is locally applied to a
gorge or deeply-cut glen; and of this application, the river and valley of
Kilskeery form a very characteristic example.

The Brade was one of the 'proportions, into which the Precinct of Omey
(Omagh) was divided in the scheme of allotment to undertakers. It embraced the
entire Parish of Kilskeery and portion of the Parish of Dromore. A. 'great
proportion,' it consisted of 2,000 acres and 600 acres in Demesne
(Castlemervyn), together with great patches of bog and wood land which were not
counted in. (Hill, Plantation in Ulster).

(From ATW) “The Plantation Commission sat in Dungannon in 1608 and 1609 to
carve up Tyrone…. They dealt with Tyrone as comprising four Baronies of Omagh.
Clogher, Dungannon and Mountjoy, with the parish of Kilskerry, for
centuries ruled by Clogher, now being included in the Barony of Omagh
(Omey) What has been described in Plantation papers as “The Great
Proportion of Brade” including all the estimated arable land of this parish, was
given to Sir Meryvn Tuchet, the Earl of Castlehaven on 12 March, 1611. Although
it was described as a “great proportion” and therefore taken to be around 2,000
acres of arable land, it was close to 30,000 acres. Many of the present
townlands of Kilskerry parish were listed, along with much of Dromore parish.
Considering that there were also church lands shown as Kilskerry, Corkhill,
Glassmullagh, Shanmullan, Cabra, Mulnagork, Relagh, Drumgran, Golan, Killyblunk,
Derryallen, Rosnareen, Liffer, Drumsonnus, Makeny and Carran, the amount
allocated both planters and the established church were very much greater than
what was shown on paper. At the time the “Lower Water” end of the parish
contained vast tracts of moorland and forest, since reclaimed. In Pynnars Survey
of 1614, carried out to see how the plantation had progressed, he reported that
Castlehaven had let his lands extensively to Irish tenants and had not built his
castle or town as required. Very few planters had arrived here at that stage.
Casleehaven then assigned the territory to his cousin, Sir Henry Mervyn of
Hampshire, Admiral of the Narrow Seas, who in turn passed it to his son, Captain
James Mervyn. Arising from Pynnars Survey, Castlehaven was reprimanded for
non-compliance with plantation undertaking, (in letting land to natives), the
lands were formally again forfeited to the crown and officially reallocated to
Captain James Mervyn and his heirs forever, on 1 June, 1630. The original
Castlehaven was condemned for criminal activity and was sent to the Tower of
London and executed on Tower Hill in 1631. The castle was built around 1628,
Captain James Mervyn and his wife Elizabeth being the first to live there and
the building of Trillick commenced around 1630. The
purpose of the town was to house able-bodied men for protection of the castle
and each house was to have a gun.

The “Lower Water” end, part of this parish for centuries, was from a time
part of Derryvullen parish, but the Magheracross/Coa area, even up to 1860, were
described as being in the parish of Magheracross, even though the plaque on the
wall of Magherlough Church states that Father Francis McMahon was paster of
Kilskerry and Coa for 21 years up to his death in 1828. The Coa Area was then to
vacillate between neighboring Fermanagh parishes before returning to this parish
in November 1972.
The townlands in the ecclesiastical, Catholic Parishes of
the Clogher Diocese, changed over the centuries, and did not always agree with
those of the civil parishes. The Ballinamallard end of the Coa area was granted
to Sir Henery Folliot, at the plantation, but the most of the Coa area,
Maguire’s royal mensal land, was a ready and safe haven for banished native
landowners. Bryan Maguire having been given land there.”

The Townlands, in the “Lower Water” end of the
parish are mentioned here, but not listed below, as part of
Kilskerry parish. If you are looking for their civil records you will need to
visit Co. Fermanagh. They include Bigh (Beagh), Cavavalough (Glebe),
Cavantillycormack, Coa, Derryraghan, Killee, and Roscor. AGHNALARGE
Old spellings: (KPNE)
1. Aghnilarge (D.S., 1661).
2. Aghnalarge
alias
3. Aghnalurge (S. & D., c. 1680).

Ath - na-learg: 'Ford of the slopes, tracks.' Etymologically, the first
element in this name could be achadh, 'field'; but the presence of a ford
disposes of this derivation. In fact, the old ford where Sir Phelim O'Neill
routed the Planters in 1641 is still in evidence. Aghnalarge, as name of a
townland, is now utterly unknown, having long since given way to Kilskeery,
which, as name of a townland, was equally unnkown to the surveyors of 1661. The
name itself, and the situation of the pre-Plantation Parish Church, are marked
on the Down Survey map of 1654 : Upon Aghnalarge there standeth ye Church.' The
Church, a small rectangular building, which was 'unroofed' in 1609 (M.H.), stood
in the center of the old mixed graveyard at Kilskeery village. Very probably it
was built on the site of Kilskeery Monastery, founded in 749 A.D. (M.H.).

Buaile Ard: high milking place, Ballyard 1826, CEN, ATW. Herdsmen of the
O’Neills as was the custom centuries ago, spent the non- winter months
creighting or herding the cattle day and night on out-farms and Ballyard was a
milking center (hence buaile – a milking place). The Harp Creamery was located
here.

Both Domhnaigh: Tent of the Church or Sunday Hut, Bodoney 1826, CEN, ATW. A
stone quarry was located here. Crockalusky; Cnoc-a'-loiscthe: 'Burnt, or
parched hill.’ Cnocknamuddy, Cnoc-na-mbodach: 'Hill of the serfs.' The b
of bodach is rarely preserved intact; it is almost always aspirated as in cnoc a
bhodaigh, or eclipsed, as here.

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 18 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 19 Houses; Inhabitants 100

Census 1851: 20 Houses; Inhabitants 87

Census 1861: 19 Houses; Inhabitants 109

Census 1871: 14 Houses; Inhabitants 87

Census 1881: 13 Houses; Inhabitants 66

BOHEE
Both -Aoidh / Aodha: ‘Aodh's hut.'

This was formerly a separate townland, but has been recorded as part of
Badoney after the 1826 Tithe records. The first element in both names is the
same, viz., both, 'a hut.' The second element is probably Aodh, interpreted by
ancient authorities to mean 'fire,' - 'a fiery warrior.' The name Aodh is older
than the earliest Irish colonists, for it was used amongst the Gauls in the time
of Julius Caesar. It was the name of a great many of our ancient kings, and the
Irish ecclesiastics named Aodh are almost innumerable. Amongst family names
derived from it are Magee, Mackay, Hayes, Hughes, O'Hay, Mac Hugh. Bohee or
Bohea KPNE, Bohee 1826.

Cabrach: rough unprofitable land, Cabragh 1666,CEN, Cabra 1826, ATW. There
are remains of two forts located here, one more than 100 yards in diameter.
Aughanure; Ath-an-iubhair: 'Ford of the Yew tree.' Achadh, 'a field,' is
possible as first element, but there is a river separating Aughanure from
Roscor. Coolheaton; Cuil-aitinn: 'Corner of furze.' Derrylin,
Doire- linne: 'Wood of the pool.' The Lees, An lias: 'the enclosure.' Or,
Lighe, 'Bed or grave' (or lia, 'a stone '). Cabra fort,which is unusually well
preserved, is situated within 'the Lees.' The -s in the modern spelling is the
English plural symbol tacked to the Irish word, lighe, or lia. Swaney’s
Hill, Cnoc-Samhna: 'Samhuin hill.’ place of assembly. The first of November
was called Samhuin, which is commonly explained samh-fhuin, i.e., the end of
samh, or summer; and, like Bealltaine, the first day of May, it was a day
devoted by the Pagan Irish to religious and festive ceremonials.
Sessiagh, Seiseadh: 'A sixth,' a measure of land.

Hearth Tax 1666: 2 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 53 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 76 Houses; Inhabitants 430

Census 1851: 53 Houses; Inhabitants 296

Census 1861: 53 Houses; Inhabitants 247

Census 1871: 40 Houses; Inhabitants 186

Census 1881: 34 Houses; Inhabitants 181

CARRAN
Old spellings: (KPNE)

Carnuchy (M.E.C., 1609), The seventeenth century
form 'Carnuchy 'is now obsolete, and there is no longer any trace of a cairn;
but the elevation above 'Cam Lough’ known as 'Blocky hill,' a sub-denomination
of this townland, was such a site as our pagan ancestors were wont to fancy as
their final resting-place. The word earn, caran, carran, etc., is a diminutive
of carr, meaning 'a rock,' or rocky land, a word not found in the dictionaries.
Whenever the word cam forms the whole or part of a place-name we may be sure
that a cairn existed to mark the grave of some person important in his day.Cam Eochadha, 'Eochadh's cairn': monumental heap of stones, also McCaughey’s
Fort. Carron 1826, Carran CEN, ATW. Blockey Hill; Brocagh: 'Spotted
place,' or 'Place of badgers, a badger warren.'

Cabhan na marbh: 'Hollow of the dead.', Cavanamara 1666, CEN, ATW,
Cavanamarrow 1826. Cabhan means primarily 'a hollow' or ' cavity,' for it is
cognate with the Latin cavea, French caban, and English cabin; but in some parts
of Ulster it is understood to mean quite the reverse, viz.,'a round dry hill.'
The extensive townland of Cavanamara has a large marshy patch at the southern
end of the village of Trillick, which it contains, and
another on the western side, as the sub-denomination Annagh (eanach, a marsh)
implies. At the opposite end of the townland, in the vicinity of the famous
'Black Lion Inn,' there is further marsh, though mid-way there is the lofty
hill, Slieveroe, Sliabh ruadh, ‘Red mountain.', marked 500 feet on the Ordnance
Survey Map.

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Census 1841: 19 Houses; Inhabitants 97

Census 1851: 17 Houses; Inhabitants 80

Census 1861: 14 Houses; Inhabitants 63

Census 1871: 9 Houses; Inhabitants 37

Census 1881: 7 Houses; Inhabitants 29

COOLBACK
Old spellings: (KPNE)
None: This is a small pear-shaped townland. The
absence of the name from the Plantation maps and documents suggests that
originally it belonged to Scallan or Cabra, probably the former, since it is
bounded on the Cabra side by a winding river, from which it takes name.

Corr dhrom-fhada: 'Long-backed hill’, Here the last two elements are to be
taken together as an adjective, dhrom-fhada, 'long-backed' (or the like); the
initial d aspirated (fem.) is anglicized as a g-sound; hence -gromady, spellings
1. and 2. Cordromedy 1826, CEN, ATW

Corr-choill: 'Round wood.' Cork Hill 1826, Corkhill CEN,ATW. The first
element in this name is the adjective corr, ‘round’ preceding the noun. Thus
pronounced in English as Cor-khill, not Cork Hill. The Down Survey map of 1654
shows a church in this townland, quite near Kilskeery, presumably the first
Protestant church at Kilskeery.

Hearth Tax 1666: 1 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 13 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 19 Houses; Inhabitants 99

Census 1851: 13 Houses; Inhabitants 74

Census 1861: 12 Houses; Inhabitants 66

Census 1871: 11 Houses; Inhabitants 48

Census 1881: 8 Houses; Inhabitants 42

CORKRAGH
Old spellings: (KPNE)
Corcorragh (1666)

Corr-churrach: 'Round bog, or marsh.' Again, as in 'Corkhill,' the first
element is the adjective corr, 'round.' The townland lies on either side of the
Kilskeery river and is definitely marshy. Corkraw 1826, Corkragh CEN, ATW.

Crosan: 'A little cross.' Crossan 1826, CEN, ATW.
This is the home of Hugh Cummiskey B1779, arrived Boston, Massachusetts, USA
in 1818, died Lowel , Massacusetts, USA in 1871. Hugh controlled a group of
Irish laborers that contracted to level the hills of Boston 1818-22 and build
the canals and factories of Lowell and Lawrence Massachusetts 1822-1850’s. Any
local men who wished to emigrate and work with Hugh Cummiskey in Boston or
Lowell had first to visit the family cottage at Crossan and be checked for their
suitability by members of the Cummiskey family. Perhaps assistance was given
with the fare and the newly emigrated laborer was then to pay back that
financial assistance through their work with Hugh in the USA. It was in this way
that so many men from Dromore and Trillick with surnames such as McCosker,
McLaughlin, McSorley and McQuaid made their way to Lowell. see https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/CentreforArchaeologicalFieldworkCAF/PDFFileStore/Filetoupload,291767,en.pdf

Doire na giall: 'Oakwood of the hostages’, It is believed locally that
servants and herdsmen of the O’Neils and earlier lords of the castle area were
located here, hence the name of the oakwood of the hostages or servants.
McAleer derives : Doire na giie,: 'Oakwood of brightness,’ and topographically
the derivation is appropriate, for Tamnaghmore, Tamhnach mar, 'the big field,'
and 'Woodhill,' two sub-denominations of Dernagilly, present a very bright
prospect by reason of the long sedge they produce. Denis Gallagher had a school
here in the 1850’s. Dorney 1826, Dernagilly CEN, ATW. Annagh Hill;
Eanach: 'Marsh.' The 'hill,' overlooking the marsh, forms the site of
"Dernagilly House”.

Doire (atha) leathain: 'Oakwood of the broad ford.' While we cannot exclude
the possibility of aluinn, ‘beautiful,' as the last element in this name, it is
difficult to reconcile it with the early spellings. The latter suggest leathan,
‘broad,' which is very often shortened to lane in the North, e.g., Gortlane in
Antrim, 'broad field,' and Lislane in Derry and Tyrone, 'broad fort.' This
interpretation is strengthened by the fact that the Golan river has three broad
fords where it forms the boundary between Derryallen and Relagh; and the stress
on ath and leath- is almost equal. If we take account of the modern form merely,
doire aluinn, 'beautiful oakwood,' is in accord with pronunciation and stress.
There was a dispensary in Derryallen up to 1860. Derryallen 1826, CEN, ATW.
Falskey, Fal-sceach: 'White thorn hedge ; often applied to the land
enclosed by a fal.

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 12 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 22 Houses; Inhabitants 99

Census 1851: 23 Houses; Inhabitants 104

Census 1861: 20 Houses; Inhabitants 84

Census 1871: 12 Houses; Inhabitants 49

Census 1881: 9 Houses; Inhabitants 35

DERRYALLEN GLEBENot listed in KPNE or ATW, Included in
Derryallen on the 1841 Census, became church (glebe) land between
1841-51. Derryallen Glebe CEN

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Doire (an) atha: 'Oakwood of the ford.' KPNE; Doire: ‘an oak grove’ ATW,
This is only a remnant of the original name. Spellings 4. and 5. suggest doire
(an) atha. The townland is bounded on one side by the Kilskeery river, and a
weir is shown there on the Ordnance Survey map. Doire forms the first element of
four other townland names in the Parish. Though primarily meaning 'oakwood,' not
every doire was oak, as the peat bogs testify. It is one of the most prolific
roots in Irish place-names, and thus furnishes evidence of the extent and
location of former forest-land. Derry 1826, CEN, ATW.

Doire Mhic Fhionnain: 'Mac Fhionnain's oakwood.' KPNR; Doire Mhic Chionaith:
‘McKernna’s oakwood’ ATW.
Mr. McAleer derives : Doire M'Cana: 'McCann's oak
grove.' The surname 'McCann' is quite common in the Parish, too; but,
paradoxically, the people pronounce 'Derrymacanna' as if written 'Derry Mac
Kenna'! In other words, the local pronunciation accords with the old spellings.
Mac Fhionnain is a Tyrone surname, and is here assimilated to Mac Kenna, a more
common name. For the benefit of parishioners who are unfamiliar with Gaelic, it
may be noted that m aspirated (mh) is sounded like v or w, and that Mhic is
genitive of Mac, 'son.' Derrymacanna 1826, CEN, ATW. Barrenboy; Bearna
bnidhe: 'Yellow gap,' or, more likely, Boireann bhuidhe: 'Yellow stony-place.'
(pron. 'burren ').

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 8 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 8 Houses; Inhabitants 62

Census 1851: 19 Houses; Inhabitants 48

Census 1861: 5 Houses; Inhabitants 30

Census 1871: 6 Houses; Inhabitants 24

Census 1881: 6 Houses; Inhabitants 41

DOOGARY
Old spellings: (KPNE)
Dugry (1666).

Dubh-doire: 'Black oakwood.' This townland is largely cut-away bog, and was
formerly covered with wood, which explains the second element. McAleer gives
dubh-churrach, 'back marsh,' which is true enough to the terrain and to the
sounds, but which is less likely because less common. This townland does not
appear on the Plantation map of 1609, and would seem to have been originally
part of Drumharvey. Doogery 1826, Doogary CEN, ATW.

DRUMASH
Old spellings:
(KPNE) A small townland, it is not shown on the Plantation maps, and may have formed
part of Corlea originally.
Druim-ais: 'Ridge of the marsh.' (ais: hill, fort, marshy ground). This
townland, like many others in the Parish, combines both hill and swamp. Drumash
1826, CEN, ATW.

Druim-binnein (binneain): 'Ridge of the little peak.' Binnein is one of the
diminutives of beann, 'a horn, peak,' or 'pointed hill'; but it is often
applied, as in the present instance, to a steep hill. Drumbinnion 1826, CEN,
Drumbinion ATW.

Druim-dreann: 'Rough, scanty ridge.' In preferring the adjective dreann, to
the noun drean, meaning 'wren,' as second element in this name, we write
advisedly; for Joyce, in his Irish Names of Places states that ”Drumdran, the
name of two townlands in Fermanagh and Tyrone, means 'the ridge of the wrens '."
The derivation given is true to topography, for the unfruitful soil of Drumdran
has evoked locally the unkind pseudonym 'clabar hill.' Drumdran 1826, CEN,
ATW.

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 15 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 22 Houses; Inhabitants 116

Census 1851: 23 Houses; Inhabitants 124

Census 1861: 21 Houses; Inhabitants 107

Census 1871: 13 Houses; Inhabitants 70

Census 1881: 13 Houses; Inhabitants 63

DRUMHARVEY
Old spellings: (KPNE)
This name does not appear in any Plantation
document.

Druim Samhna (s): 'Samhuin ridge 'or 'Ridge of assembly, The great festival
of Samhuin, instituted by Tuathal, king of Ireland in the first century, was
celebrated on the first day of November at Tlachtga, in Meath; but minor
festivities were observed on the same day in various places throughout the
country. These meetings were usually held on hills. The Ordnance map shows two
elevations of 300 feet in this townland, one in ’White Drumsonnus,' and one in
'Black Drumsonnus '; though there is no tradition of assembly. The name would
appear to be the same as that of 'Sawney's hill,' a sub-denomination of the
adjoining townland of Cabra. The final s of the modern name is the English
plural. Mr. McAleer gives alternative derivations : druim sonnach(s) 'ridge of
the ramparts,' which is possible; and druim sonais, 'ridge of prosperity,' which
is improbable. This townland was list, on the Tithe records of 1826 as Drumsonas
Johnston and Drumsonas Lendrum, after two land owners at the time. Drumsonnus
CEN, ATW.

Aifrionnan: 'Place of the Mass’, This townland was glebe land (church land),
a fact which, taken with the name itself, led parishioners to conjecture that
there had been a Mass-garden in the place. Such speculation is futile, however,
for the name is certainly pre-Penal. Efferan Glebe 1826, CEN, Effernan ATW,
KPNE.

Hearth Tax 1666: 2 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Fiodh-Ghlais: 'Wooded stream ' (fiodh, 'a tree, wood '). McAleer gives fiodh
glas, 'green wood.' One of the first schools in the parish operated here in the
early 1800’s. A multi-denominational school under Protestant management and with
a Catholic principal operated here for close to 150 years. Fegliss 1826, Feglish
CEN, ATW. Lisnagore, Lios-na-ngabhar: 'Fort of the goats.'

Fearn - mhaigh: 'Alder - plain.' A school in Ferney in the late 1850’s was
replaced by Drumharvey, in turn replaced by Feglish. School master in Ferney
hanged himself in the 1850’s. Fairney 1826, Ferney CEN, ATW.

Hearth Tax 1666: 3 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 21 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 32 Houses; Inhabitants 207

Census 1851: 28 Houses; Inhabitants 155

Census 1861: 26 Houses; Inhabitants 136

Census 1871: 21 Houses; Inhabitants 108

Census 1881: 21 Houses; Inhabitants 130

GARGADIS
We have failed to get any authoritative opinion on this name, which does not
appear in any Plantation document. (KPNE)
McAleer hazarded garradh-gadaidhe, 'Garden frequented by thieves,' where the
final s of the modern name would be the English plural symbol. There is a fort
in the townland called 'Girgaddis fort.' Girgaddis KPNE, Gargadoes 1826,
Gargadis CEN, Girgadis ATW.

Garbh –achadh: 'Rough field.’ The first element gra, common to all spellings,
provides a good example of metathesis of gar(bh), which is quite common. The
second syllable is heavily stressed thus indicating achadh as derivation.
Garvaghey 1826, Garvaghy CEN, ATW. Glassdromon, Old spelling: Glasdrom
(M.E.C, 1609). Glas-dromainn: 'Green ridge.'

A. Gabhlan: 'Little river-fork' (dim. of gabhal, 'a fork ').
B. Gualainn:
'A shoulder, a hill.'
Golan Glebe, one of the largest townlands in the Parish, has two parts,
'Uppertown' (Crocknacarta, Cnoc-na-ceardcha: 'Hill of the smithy.'), and
'Undertown' (Crockfada, Cnoc fada: 'Long hill.’). It is bounded on its western
side by the Golan river, which takes on a small tributary near Golan bridge. The
fork thus formed probably accounts for the name (A). We cannot, however, exclude
the possibility of gualainn, shoulder,' which is often applied to a hill, as
derivation, especially since Golan has two cnuic. Golan KPNE, ATW. Golan Glebe
1826, CEN.

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Greanan: 'A gravelly place.' Everyone takes the modern 'Greenan," everywhere,
to be 'Grianan,' 'a sunny place,' and Mr. McAleer was no exception in the
present instance. There is, however, another Irish word which may be either
greanan or grianan, derived from grean / grian (Dinneen), which means 'gravelly
place’. It is obvious that grian, 'sun,' would hardly give grann. The local
pronunciation of the present name accords with the modern and earlier spellings.
Moreover, the townland is bounded on the North and West by a river with five
fords, and is geologically 'gravelly,’ especially at the fords. Terance McQuaide
had a hedge school here in the 1850’s, first in Killyblunick and later in
Nixon’s field in Grannan. Grannan 1826, KPNE, ATW; Greenan CEN.

Ath (an)-cinn-chon: 'Ford of the hound's head.' It is often difficult to
distinguish between ath, 'a ford' and achadh, 'a field' ; and Mr. McAleer, who
was evidently unfamiliar with the topography of the Parish, and probably had no
old spellings before him, was mistaken in deriving this name achadh an chon,
'hound's habitation.' The golden key to the correct derivation is the river
which separates this townland from Girgaddis, passing under Ballinapaste and
Stranagomer bridges on its way to Magheralough. The presence of a river strongly
suggests ath as the first element in the name. The initial h is a purely English
development which goes back, however, to the seventeenth century. It may be
compared to the notorious 'cockney’ 'h' that is prefixed to initial vowels, e.g.
'Hireland' for Ireland. The second element, cinn, gen. of ceann, 'a head,'
anglicized kin, and so called from some peculiarity of shape. Hackincon 1826,
CEN, ATW.

Coillidh-blonoige: 'Wood of the lard' (coillidh, old dat., new nom.). It may
well be asked why were places named from lard? Perhaps such names indicate that
pigs were fattened in the respective places. Joyce states that 'in early times
when woods of oak and beech abounded in this country, it was customary for kings
and chieftains to keep great herds of swine, which fed in the woods on masts,
and were tended by swineherds.' Killyblunick, like Golan, Effernan, Cloncandra
and Derryallen were all mountain glebe, escheated in the great robbery of 1610.
Killyblunick KPNE, ATW; Killyblunick Glebe 18726, CEN.

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Census 1841: 24 Houses; Inhabitants 137

Census 1851: 22 Houses; Inhabitants 135

Census 1861: 21 Houses; Inhabitants 112

Census 1871: 20 Houses; Inhabitants 113

Census 1881: 19 Houses; Inhabitants 81

KILLYFUDDY
Old spellings: (KPNE); This name does not appear in any Plantation document.
Probably, as wood-land, it did not rank as a townland until it was
reclaimed.

Cill Scire: 'Church of (St.) Scire.'; The old ecclesiastical centre,
Kilskeery, which gives name to the Parish, is of great antiquity. It was the
site of Kilskeery Monastery, founded in 749 A.D. (M.H.), and had a Bishop of its
own, Cineadh, son of Ceallach, who died in 809 A.D. (A.U.). The Martyrologies of
Tallaght and Donegal, preserve the form Cill-Scire; while the Annals of Ulster,
completed and edited by Archdeacon O'Cassidy, a vicar of the Parish (died 1541),
speak of "The parson of Cell Sgire Head of tribe or of hospitality." “Little is
known as to what pre-plantation clergy were here. It is believed that the
McQuaides of Mulnagork, who were erenachs at Kilskerry provided some of the
local clergy who served the church here up to the 1550's. One of the McQuaides
referred to in the Annals (of Ulster) is Hugh McQuaide, vicar and erenach of
Kilskerry,who died in 1536. The Annals say he was "the parson of Kilskerry, head
of tribe, or of hospitality, spacious is the floor of his house, head preceptor
of all clergy." Kilskerry KPNE, ATW, Kilskerry Glebe 1826, CEN.

Hearth Tax 1666: 1 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

KNOCKNAGOR
Old spellings: (KPNE); This name does not appear in any Plantation document,
and suggests that the present name is comparatively modern.

A. Cnoc- na-gcorr: 'Hill of the cranes.'
B. Cnocan - O –gCorra: 'O'Corrs'
hill.'
This name, which appears easy of analysis at first sight, has proved to be a
veritable double entendre. Etymologically, one inclines to corr, 'a heron or
crane' as the second element. This word is used extensively in forming names,
and appears in 'Roscor,' 'point of cranes,' another townland “Lower
Water” end of the parish. The Kncknagor
district is quite marshy, too, and might well be regarded as a favorite haunt of
these birds. Some of the older generation, however, favor gabhar,,a goat’,’ as
the second element. This derivation, however, is contrary both to pronunciation
and spelling. The word gabhar, when anglicized, generally takes the form gore,
gower, or gour. As a fact, there is a fort called Lisnagore, fort of the goats,'
situated on the very borders of Knocknagor. Sheanchies of the district,
maintained that ‘long ago' there were several families named 'Corr’ resident in
the district, and that the townland was called 'after them.' There is a 'Corrs'
bridge in the townland.' By reference to the Tithe Applotment of the Parish,
dated 1826, we find that of the eleven occupiers in Knocknagor, four were named
'Corr.’ Knocknagor 1826, CEN, ATW.

Leith – bhear: 'Half water.' (bior, water). This townland consists of a
steep hillside with a marshy bottom containing innumerable springs, one of which
is a Chalybeate spa, and is bounded on its southern side by the Kilskeery river
which has it source in the vicinity. There is certainly sufficient water to
justify the word bior. In Kilskeery, the name is generally pronounced and
written "Liffer," though occasionally assimilated with the more familiar
"Lifford." In spelling 1. the double t is probably a misreading of t for f.
Lifford 1826, CEN. Liffer ATW, KPNE. Crockor, Cnoc corr: 'Rounded hill'
(corr, 'round'; adj.) The Ordnance Survey map marks this cnoc by 700 feet
contour lines. Crockfada, Cnoc fada: 'Long hill.’ Crocknaboortan,
Cnoc-na-bpuirtin: 'Hill of the little banks.' (porf, a bank). This
sub-denomination is bounded by the Kilskeery river which takes its rise in the
vicinity. Crocknamona, Cnoc-na-mona: 'Hill of the turf.' Meencrim,
Min-crom: 'Sloping mountain flat.'

Hearth Tax 1666: 1 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 26 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 38 Houses; Inhabitants 211

Census 1851: 38 Houses; Inhabitants 199

Census 1861: 34 Houses; Inhabitants 161

Census 1871: 28 Houses; Inhabitants 150

Census 1881: 32 Houses; Inhabitants 144

LISDOO
Old spellings:
1. Letterd (1666).

Lios Dubh: ‘Black fort’ ATW. Lisdoo was not listed as a townland in KPNE,
most likely in error. Lisdoo 1826, CEN, ATW.

Lios -na -h-aine: 'Fort of pleasure, or delight.' The form ‘na h-‘, common to
all spellings, points to a feminine noun in the genitive singular, as final
element in this name. The lios is still in evidence near Lisnahanna cross-roads,
and an Orange hall commemorates the former Fair where ‘thronged the brave and
bright.’ Lisnahanna 1826, CEN, ATW.

Leacht an ruis: 'Flagstone of the headland.' The f of frish in 1. is a
misreading for t. Leacht, 'a flagstone,' like cairn, is often applied to a
monumental heap of stones. In the North of Ireland, the guttural is universally
suppressed, and the word is pronounced lat or let. There are standing stones on
the borders of this townland. Loughterush 1826, CEN, ATW.

Machaire-locha: 'Plain of the lake.’ The Parish Church of St. Macarten is
popularly called after this name, by reason of its proximity to the picturesque
lake with cranog. The Church is situated in the townland of Stranagomer.
Magheralough 1826, CEN, ATW.

Hearth Tax 1666: 2 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 17 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 22 Houses; Inhabitants 88

Census 1851: 17 Houses; Inhabitants 66

Census 1861: 13 Houses; Inhabitants 64

Census 1871: 14 Houses; Inhabitants 69

Census 1881: 13 Houses; Inhabitants 58

MAKENNY
Old spellings:
(KPNE) 1. Markin (1666)

Meacanach: 'Parsnip - producing land.' The first syllable of the name is
heavily stressed and sounded long (as in the English 'make'). In the absence of
evidence, meacanach, one of the adjectival forms of the word meacan, 'parsnip,'
seems to approximate nearest to the pronunciation. Makeny ATW, Makenny 1826, CEN
. Sessiagh, Seiseadh: 'A sixth,' a measure of land.

Hearth Tax 1666: 4 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 35 agricultural holdings over one acre

Census 1841: 60 Houses; Inhabitants 365

Census 1851: 53 Houses; Inhabitants 279

Census 1861: 50 Houses; Inhabitants 248

Census 1871: 47 Houses; Inhabitants 235

Census 1881: 46 Houses; Inhabitants 221

MEELTOGUES
Old spellings: (KPNE); This name does not appear in any Plantation document.
Probably, as wet-land, it did not rank as a townland until it was reclaimed.

Mioltogach: 'place of midges.' The final s in the modern form is the English
plural -s. Miol denotes any kind of animal, different species being designated
by means of qualifying terms. The diminutive mioltog is the usual word for a
midge; and this term is pretty general in names, always indicating a place
where, in favorable weather, there are swarms of midges. Midges are a group of
insects that include many kinds of small flies. The townland is swampy.
Meltogues 1826, ATW, KPNE. Meeltogues CEN.

MOORFIELD
Old spellings: (KPNE); This is the only townland in the Parish bearing an
English name. An Ordnance Survey list of names of the Parish, preserved in the
Public Record Office, Dublin, shows Gort - mona bracketted after 'Moorefield.'
It is evidently a translation.

Maolan -na-gcorcach: 'Hill-summit of the marshes.' Maoldn is a diminutive of
Maol, meaning 'a hill, hillock, or headland.' The syllable missing in the modern
form is retained in pronunciation. The name describes accurately the topography
of the townland. This townland was church land. “Little is known as to what
pre-plantation clergy were here. It is believed that the McQuaides of Mulnagork,
who were erenachs at Kilskerry provided some of the local clergy who served the
church here up to the 1550's. One of the McQuaides referred to in the Annals (of
Ulster) is Hugh McQuaide, vicar and erenach of Kilskerry,who died in 1536. The
Annals say he was "the parson of Kilskerry, head of tribe, or of hospitality,
spacious is the floor of his house, head preceptor of all clergy." Mulnagork
1826, CEN, ATW.

Hearth Tax 1666: 0 tax payers/Hearths

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Census 1841: 9 Houses; Inhabitants 46

Census 1851: 7 Houses; Inhabitants 39

Census 1861: 6 Houses; Inhabitants 33

Census 1871: 7 Houses; Inhabitants 32

Census 1881: 6 Houses; Inhabitants 30

REALTONS
Old spellings: (KPNE); This name does not appear in any Plantation document,
and suggests that the present name is comparatively modern.

Railgheach: 'Place of big oaks.', Relagh-Carlin KPNE, Carlin is probably
equivalent of O'Cerbhallain, genitive O’Cerbhallan, a surname used to
distinguish this townland from Relaghgunnus. There is an extensive peat bog in
this townland, still in use and bearing evidence of former forest. Ralagh 1826,
CEN, ATW.

Railgheach - gineadha: 'productive land abounding in oak.' The townland is
situated between Bundoran Junction and Irvinestown, a part of the Parish that
was forest-land at the time of the Plantation and for ages previously. The
greater half of the townland, lying north of Relagh Lough, is still known as
'Woodhill.' Relaghgunnus KPNE, Relaghgunnis ATW, Releigh Gunness 1826, Relagh
Guinness CEN. Crockrawer, Cnoc reamhar: 'Thick hill.' M aspirated (mh),
in the second element, is often represented by v.

SCREEBY
Old spellings: (KPNE); This name does not appear in any Plantation document,
and suggests that the present name is comparatively modern.

Screabach: 'Scraped land.' This derivation accords best with the local
pronounciation, "Scrabby"; but scriobach, 'land furrowed by mountain torrents,'
means much the same. Scraby 1826, Screeby CEN, ATW. The Bonnett, Buannat:
'Little lasting one,' i.e., river. This, and another form, buanaid, signify
'lasting river,’ for the Irish seem to have been fond of applying the word buan,
'lasting,' to rivers.

Sean-mhullagh: 'Old hilltop.' Shanmulla KPNE, Shanmullagh East was church
land. Shanmullagh East CEN, ATW. Ballinaboy; Beal-an-atha-buidhe: 'Mouth
of the yellow ford.' Leakagh was located within Shanmullagh East.

Hearth Tax 1666: 1 tax payers/Hearths Recorded under Leakagh.

Tithe Applotment 1826: 0 agricultural holdings over one acre
(Church Lands did not owe a Tithe to the church)

Srath-longphuirt ; 'River-bank, or holm of the fortress, or embankment.'
Srath is generally applied to the soft meadow-land, or holm, along the banks of
a river. The insertion of a t between the s and the r is simply an expedient, in
accordance with a well known euphonic law, to avoid the awkward combination sr.
Under the influence of this corruption also, the simple word becomes sfraw, as
here (2., 3., and 4.), and in the following place-name. Longphort, a term
originally applied to those places where, the Norsemen beached their boats,
signifies 'a fortress, or encampment.' The word was applied both to the old
circular entrenched forts and to the more modern stone castles. Only the outline
of the old castle here for Castletown estate now remains, lands of the estate
were sold to tenants in 1897. Stralongford 1826, CEN, ATW.

Srath na gcomar: 'Holm of the confluences.' The meeting of the waters is only
a few perches up stream from St. Macarten's Church. The Church has the almost
unique distinction in this country of being built on a river bank. The river is
a lazy serpent that coils and noses its way around 'Millbank," pursues its
course exquisitely towards Trillick, changes its mind, turns back towards
Magheralough, and finally loses itself in the sacred waters of Lough Erne.
Stranagomer 1826, Stranagummer CEN, ATW. Ednagee Hill, Old spelling:
Eadan nagedy (M.E.C, 1609). Eudan-na-gaeithe: 'Hill-brow of the wind.'

Treilic: 'Triplestone' (from triliaic, dat. of trelia; nom. Jia, 'a stone.'
Tri-liac, called 'a stone circle' on the Ordnance Survey map, gives name to
Trillick, which dates from the Mervyn Plantation. It is situated close by
Castlemervyn, on a lofty hill about half a mile from the village. The erection
of three stones to mark a burial place, particularly that of a chieftain, must
have been very common, for names containing the compound tri-liac occur very
frequently. Trillick ATW, KPNE. Trillick Town CEN.

Tullach an aon-chaorthainn: 'Summit of the lone rowantree.' In the Celtic
tradition, the rowan has a long and still popular history in folklore as a tree
which protects against witchcraft and enchantment. The physical characteristics
of the tree may have contributed to its protective reputation, including the
tiny five pointed star or pentagram on each berry opposite its stalk.
Tullynincrin 1826, CEN, ATW.

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